What I Wore: Debs Numero Dos

It finally came around to the day of my OWN debs. Having been at five before it was nice to eventually be heading off to mine. The Bailieborough debs was held in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan and I can't fault it. An amazing night was had by all in a great venue with good music and delicious food. What more could you ask for?

Some may be aware that this is my second debs in a month and will know that I have a blog post similar to this on everything from the dress to accessories to hair and make-up. So if you are interested in what I wore to my boyfriend's debs click here. I am going to take the same approach to this post and split it into sections. Hope you enjoy!

Make-Up

I went for a gold eye with winged feline liner and a red lip. 

Face
Gosh Velvet Touch Cream Primer 
MAC Studio Sculpt NC30
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer Soft Beige
Cownbrush UK Concealer Palette (For Contouring)
MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Pressed Powder

Cheeks
Benefit Coralista Blush

Eyebrows
Sleek Eyebrow Kit in Light

Lips
MAC Prep and Prime Lip Primer
MAC Lip Pencil in Currant
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss 107

Eyes
Two Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Primer
Naked 1 Palette ('Buck', 'Half Baked', 'Smog' and then 'Darkhorse' in the crease)
Naked 2 Palette ('Blackout' to set gel eyeliner)
Barry M Kohl Eye Pencil
Fuschia Gel Eyeliner in Black
Essence Waterproof Liquid Liner (To neaten things up as always)
Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara
Eyelure Exaggerate False Lashes No. 141
Duo Eyelash Glue (Best eveeer!)

Hair

I wanted something elegant and Grecian looking. I was dying to have an upstyle with plaits but I just couldn't do it on my own. That is where the help of my fantastic sister came in once again (I swear her true calling is as a hairdresser .. She just doesn't know it yet!). After clipping in my Bellami hair extensions. she began to french plait my hair from the root on both the left and right side of my head. She did this until she reached the bottom of my head where she pinned the plaits to secure them in place. She then started to backcomb my roots before plaiting the rest of my hair joining it all as one. Leah tied it with a bobbin and wound it into a bun shape. She put a lot of pins in to keep it secure and to keep the heavy extensions from loosening the look. We then pulled a few bits from around the face to give it a softer look. I was more than impressed with what she had done in such a short space of time. Well done sis!

The Dress

As I was on a budget I wanted to find a dress that was elegant yet affordable. I came across this so called 'Maxi Dress' with Cowl Back on ASOS and I just fell in love. I love backless dresses and even though this also had a leg spit I felt that it was still very modest and delicate. It came in a range of colours including black and royal blue but I loved the pastel blue colour. I paid €53.52 for this dress and I think that is so affordable for a debs dress. If you want to get your hands on one yourself click here.

Shoes

White shoes seem to be all in this season so I was happy to spot these in the Dune sale last month. They had been reduced from €99 to €48. I loved the gold detail with the gold panel under the toes and the gold buckle. They have a leathery feel and are really good quality. They were also really comfortable and tied in well with the elegant look I was going for. 

Accessories

Because of the white shoes with gold detail, I wanted to pair my dress with gold and white accessories to match. My parents had bought me this clutch in Spain in a shop called Brigitte Boudot. It went perfectly with everything and was the perfect size.

My parents and little sister also picked up these gold bracelets for me whilst they were away. They were perfect and the blue in the bangle really suited the dress I was wearing. 

As well as a couple of bracelets, I wore these classy earrings from New Look. They were quite big but they didn't feel heavy nor weigh down my ears too much. They were gold but had pearls and diamonds encrusted into them. For only €8.99, I thought they were such a steal!

Nails

I had got my nails done by a friend for my boyfriends debs and they had lasted perfectly for my own. I went for gel nails in a nude colour with gold glitter on one finger on each hand. You can check out Hannah's page here.

Tan

As per usual I stuck with my Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan in Dark. I also added a bit of the Cocoa Brown Lovely Legs. I have reviews on both so why not take a look? 

For my review on Cocoa Brown I Hour Tan in Dark click here or Cocoa Brown Lovely Legs click here.

 

That's just about it for what I wore to my debs. If you have any questions don't be afraid to get in touch. 
Thanks for reading! Mwah!
Holly X

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Review: Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan in Dark

Do any of you lovely ladies find yourself applying multiple layers of fake tan to achieve that desired deep golden glow? Layer after layer and it us still unpredictable whether or not you will have that dark tan you want? Not just is it time consuming , it is also a waste of your fake tan. Well fear not as I have found our solution. 

I have been on the search for a fake tan which only requires one application leaving my skin with an even, dark and deep colour. This is something which I find other tans lack as I find myself applying layers of tan over a number of days and still it is not guaranteed I will get the colour I want. I have tried some amazing tans which I love but they are just not dark enough. I have a very pale complexion and this is the reason it takes so much tan to cancel the cool tones of my skin. In no way am I saying that there is a problem with pale skin because there is certainly not. This is just a personal preference.

If any of you have read my post on My Top 5 Fake Tans then you will know that Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan is one of my favourites. It always gives amazing results and is so affordable unlike a lot of other fake tans. My only problem was the dark colour that it claims to develop over 3 hours was just not dark enough. For some, it may be too dark or just right but I had to apply multiple layers to get a noticeable darker colour. So you can imagine how delighted I was when Marissa Carter (Creator of Cocoa Brown) launched the new Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan in DARK along with numerous other new tanning products. 

  

This is a mousse formula which I like to apply with a tanning mitt after exfoliating and moisturizing the skin the night before. Cocoa Brown tan goes on so well as the mousse turns more liquidy when applied to the skin. In comparison to the original formula this is a lot darker and you are instantly left with a glow. I like this as it allows you to see any patches or spots you may have missed. This tan dries a lot faster than others that I have dried which is great allowing you to get dressed a short while after the tan application. It is recommended to shower after 1 hour for a dark bronze colour (which may be the equivalent to 3 hours of the original formula) , 2 hours for a chocolate colour or the next shade up or 3 hours for an intense deep tan. After only one application I left it for the 3 hours. It is not a necessity to shower after unless you are within the 1 or 2 hour time frame. This tan stopped developing after the 3 hours and I was delighted with the outcome. I am so happy I have found this and would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a darker tan without applying multiple layers. This saves time and your fake tan. I picked up a bottle in Penneys last week for €6.90 but can also be found in pharmacies nationwide. (R.R.P. €7.99)

Thanks for reading! Mwah!

Holly X

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Review : Karora Express Bronzing Mousse 1 Hour

Since Cocoa Brown brought out their amazing 1 Hour Tan , a lot of fake tanning brands have decided to launch their own version of this fast developing tan formula ! Karora being one ! I love , love , love Karora tan and if you have read my post on my Top 5 Fake Tans then you will know that Karora is my number 1 ! I had only tried the Tinted Self Tanning Mist and wanted to try more of their amazing products ! I loved the way Cocoa Brown started to develop after 1 hour so was drawn to this as soon as Karora brought it out !

 For those who don't know how it works this tan gives you a colour choice depending on your preference ! After 1 hour you will have developed a light tan , after 2 hours you will have a deeper colour and if left for 3 hours you will be left with a rich dark colour ! It is recommended you shower after the number of hours has passed but if you like a dark tan then it isn't necessary ! After exfoliating and moisturizing the night before I applied this light , fluffy mousse with a tanning mitt ! This tan has a light colour so you can see where you are applying it and helps you not to miss anywhere ! For me , it glided on so easily ! The mousse turns into a liquidy consistency once applied to the skin ! Instantly you are left with glowing skin ! This tan has moisture boosting botanicals to moisturize the skin and to make your tan last longer ! I love Karora tan for its long lasting even colour ! ( I recommend moisturizing everyday to keep it looking like new ) I usually get over a week out of my tan looking flawless which is a record for me ! The Karora Express Bronzing Mousse has green undertones preventing it from turning orange and giving you the natural looking bronze colour you want ! The packaging is also really nice along with the smell ! This doesn't have your typical fake tan smell ! It leaves a strong smell but it is somewhat fruity ! As much as I love this tan it did feel a little bit sticky for a while after I had got dressed but this didn't effect the appearance ! I highly recommend this tan to anyone looking for a medium to dark tan but if it is a lighter tan you are looking for why not try one of Karora's lighter tans e.g. Karora Tinted Self Tanning Mist in Light/Medium ! I am sure you will love it just as much as I do ! Karora Express Bronzing Mousse 1 Hour is a little dearer than some tans but will definitely last you a long time ! For a 150ml bottle I paid €30 but prices may vary ! Karora products available online ( http://www.karoracosmetics.com/ ) and in most pharmacies and salons nationwide !

Hope you enjoyed this post ! Thanks for reading ! Mwah !

Holly X

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My Top 5 Fake Tans

Anyone that knows me will know that I love , love fake tanning ! I have been since I was about 13 and have tried so many tans ! It has taken me a long time to perfect applying it ! I've experienced orange hands, dark body and white face, patchiness etc. ! In the past year I have tried some amazing tans and get asked so much what one I am wearing which is always a compliment ! I always feel a little better when I have that perfect golden glow ! I am not saying there is anything wrong with being pale , this is just my personal preference !

1. TanOrganic

It is all in the name ! 99% of the ingredients in this tan are from natural origin and 87% of the ingredients are from natural farming ! It has been awarded with the Eco Cert which is stated on the glass bottle ! This tan is fantastic ! It might not be for everyone as it comes in liquid form ( very watery ) ! There are two bottles ; one with a pump which allows you to spray the tan or one in which you can let the liquid drip out through a small hole on top ! After exfoliating the night before and after moisturizing knees , feet , elbows and hands , I began to apply this tan with a mitt ! Straight away I noticed the sweet smell of caramel and oranges ! I was surprised at how nice this tan went on and how it gives an instant glow ! You can see the tan when applying as it has a slight colour but as you rub it in it disappears and just leaves a light golden colour ! If you have missed a patch just grab a small bit of moisturizer and rub around the area of tan so it blends together ! This tan takes longer to dry than others because of the natural ingredients but on the plus side , it gives you time to work with it and this tan is also very moisturizing and leaves your skin nourished and feeling and looking healthy ! I left it to develop over night ( It says leave for 8hrs before showering ) and woke up with a gorgeous even golden colour ! It wasn't orange and looked so natural ! It also lasted me over a week looking as if I had just applied it ! I had never experienced this before ! I was amazed ! I would recommend to someone with dry skin to moisturize everyday to keep it looking fresh and even ! I loved it so much that I even wore it to a debs ( as shown below ) and on many nights out ! For those who like a super dark tan then this probably isn't for you as the colour is quite natural but I might have the one for you further on ! TanOrganic is an Irish brand and can be bought from most pharmacies , supermarkets and on their website ( www.tanorgainic.com ) for €19.99 ( 100ml bottle ) ! Tan Organic also have a number of products to help prep the skin before tanning and also to apply the tan ! You should definitely check them out !

Wearing TanOrganic for a debs !

2. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan

Those following my blog have probably noticed I have mentioned this tan numerous times already ! I can't stress enough how good this is ! If I am ever in need of a quick tan or if I ever run out of my go-to tan ( which is Karora ) then this is the fake tan I use ! Cocoa Brown 1 Hour is a mousse so I recommend exfoliating and moisturizing feet , knees , hands , elbows and any dry spots on the body ! I always apply my tan with a mitt and never use my hands ! This tan gives an instant light colour so you can see any patches you may have missed ! You have a choice with this ! Whether you prefer a light glow , medium or dark tan , CB 1 Hour gives you a guideline in which you should follow to achieve your colour preference ! It recommends you shower after 1 hour to leave a light tan , 2 hours for medium and 3 hours for dark ! I usually don't bother washing the top layer off as I like to be dark but there really is no need ! This tan has green undertones leaving you with a golden colour without looking orange ! I have got many compliments whilst wearing this tan and definitely recommend it ! You will find this Irish brand ( Cocoa Brown ) in Penneys/Primark , pharmacies , supermarkets and online ( www.cocoabrown.ie ) with many of Marissa Carter's other tanning products !

I wore Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan on my Birthday as shown below !

3. TanTastic Self Tanning Gel

Okay this one mightn't be as well known but this use to be my go-to fake tan ! I used it for about a year and went through bottles of it ! I loved it but it is unbelievably difficult to get off and doesn't have the lasting power of others that I am currently using ! Apart from that this is an excellent fake tan ! It is available in liquid and a spray but I always used the gel formula ! Once again , after exfoliating and moisturizing those dry areas ( feet , knees , elbows and hands ) I would apply this with my mitt ! As this is a gel it is quite sticky and to be honest , it has that typical fake tan smell which may be a turn off to some but I didn't mind ! It has a colour to it so you can see where you are applying it ! It takes a while to dry and is quite sticky so I'd recommend loose clothing when allowing this tan to develop ! If you like a deep tan then it recommends two coats ! I usually left it overnight but it says up to 7 hours ! I always loved the colour it left ! It was always so golden ! If this tan hadn't have been so hard to remove then I would probably still be using it ! For €15 it was also quite affordable and the amount in the bottle lasts a long time ! Why not try it for yourself ? Available from pharmacies and on their website at www.tantastic.co.uk !

4. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs

I think the majority of girls in Ireland have tried this infamous fake tan ! I much prefer developing tans but this is one instant tan that I do like ! For those that don't know , it comes in a spray bottle ( It can get quite messy ) but Sally Hansen has recently brought out a lotion too which I am yet to try ! It is different when compared to other instant tans because I feel it is more like a make-up for the body ! It says it is for legs but it works perfect all over the body ! When applied it gives you an instant colour and a smooth airbrushed look ! It also covers light blemishes , marks and scars ! Sally Hansen Airbrush legs , unlike other instant tans , is water resistant ! A lot of us have probably experienced the awful effects rain can have on fake tan ! This doesn't budge as easy and you might just make it through a quick shower of rain without it leaving you with streaks and blotches ! I went to Barcelona and I wore this all the time ( as shown below ) ! I was even in the pool and it only faded a little ! I couldn't believe it ! As this is practically like a make-up , I use to mix a small amount in with my foundation to darken it on a night out or if I was on holidays so my face and body would be the same colour ! It worked wonders ! Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs' colour range is very good ! It comes in light glow , medium glow , tan glow and deep glow ! There really is a shade for everyone ! This fake tan is also great to even out any blotchy tan and is a quick alternative to any developing tan ! I think it is so handy to have in case of a tan emergency ! Prices vary but start from around €9.99 depending on where you buy it ! You will find it in Boots, most pharmacies and supermarkets ! 

This is the best picture I have unfortunately ( Very old ) ! I am wearing Sally Hansen in Deep glow !

5. Karora Self Tan Mist in Dark/Bronzed Bombshell Tinted Self Tan Mist Medium/Dark

These are actually the same tan just different bottles ! The newer bottle ( left ) and the older bottle ( right) are both available to buy !

I have left the best for last ! This is my all time favourite fake tan at the minute ! It is amaaazing ! First of all , Karora is an Irish brand that have a huge range of botanical tanning products which moisturize the skin aswell as giving it a gorgeous glow ! This is the only one from the Karora range that I have tried but I am keen to try more ! I heard a lot about this so decided to give it a go and my God ! I was amazed ! This Self Tan Mist comes in a spray bottle but doesn't go everywhere unlike some tans ! I spray it onto my mitt and apply it after exfoliating and moisturizing the dry areas on my body including knees , feet , hands and elbows ! There is a light colour when applying the liquidy formula so you can see what you are doing ! It blends so easily when you use circular motions to apply ! This also has a gorgeous smell which is always a bonus ! Karora have used acai berry and argan to create this scent which is so much nicer than your typical fake tan smell ! This tan isn't sticky and dries quite quick leaving your skin feeling soft and moisturized ! It also leaves you with a gorgeous glow straight after ! It is recommended that this is left on up to 8 hours before showering giving it time to fully develop ! I usually leave it overnight and wake up looking beautifully bronzed ! I cannot explain how nice the colour of this tan is ! It has green undertones so it is not orange ! It is a natural looking brown shade which I can say , without a doubt , will flatter any skin tone ! Like TanOrganic ( as reviewed above ) it lasts so long ! After a week , my tan will look just as good as the day after I applied it ! I moisturize everyday to every second day so it helps on how long it lasts but this is by far the best fake tan I have ever used ! I can't wait to try more from the Karora range ! I have got asked so many times what tan I am wearing whilst wearing this and can't recommend it enough ! It is a little pricier than some of the other tans I have mentioned but it is worth it ! For 100ml bottle ( perfect for travelling )  , prices start from around €16 - €22 ! There is a larger bottle available also ! You will find Karora products in some beauty salons , pharmacies and on their website ( www.karoracosmetics.com ) ! 

Hope you enjoyed this post ! Plenty more to come ! Thanks for reading ! Feel free to drop me a message or comment at any time ! Mwah !

Holly X

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